'''Melian''' the [[Maia]] was the wife of [[Elu Thingol]], mother of [[Lúthien]], and Queen of [[Doriath]]. She appears in ''[[The Silmarillion]]'' and ''[[The Children of Húrin]]''.

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'''Melian''' the [[Maia]] was the wife of [[Thingol|Elu Thingol]], mother of [[Lúthien]], and '''Queen of [[Doriath]]'''. She appears in ''[[The Silmarillion]]'' and ''[[The Children of Húrin]]''.

== History ==

== History ==

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In [[Valinor]], '''Melian''' dwelt in the gardens of [[Lórien in Valinor|Lórien]], she was akin to [[Yavanna]] the Valar. Melian journeyed often to [[Middle-earth]] for she loved the deep shadows of trees and forests. There, in the woods of [[Nan Elmoth]], she came upon [[Elwë Singollo]] (later known as [[Elu Thingol]]) as he marched into the [[Aman|West]] with the people of the [[Teleri]]. Elwe was entranced and fell into a swoon at the sight of the Maia Melian and the two of them stood hand in hand unable to move or speak for years while the trees grew around them. As a result of his absence, a portion of his followers stayed behind to search for him, while the rest continued on to Valinor. Melian and Thingol soon founded the kingdom of [[Doriath]] in Middle-earth and ruled as King & Queen. Their only daughter, [[Lúthien Tinúviel]], married the man [[Beren Erchamion]], and as a result, Melian's Maian blood was passed on to both [[Elves]] and [[Men]].

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In [[Valinor]], '''Melian''' dwelt in the gardens of [[Lórien in Valinor|Lórien]], she was akin to [[Yavanna]] the Valar. Melian journeyed often to [[Middle-earth]] for she loved the deep shadows of trees and forests. There, in the woods of [[Nan Elmoth]], she came upon [[Elwë Singollo]] (later known as [[Thingol|Elu Thingol]]) as he marched into the [[Aman|West]] with the people of the [[Teleri]]. Elwe was entranced and fell into a swoon at the sight of the Maia Melian and the two of them stood hand in hand unable to move or speak for years while the trees grew around them. As a result of his absence, a portion of his followers stayed behind to search for him, while the rest continued on to Valinor. Melian and Thingol soon founded the kingdom of [[Doriath]] in Middle-earth and ruled as King & Queen. Their only daughter, [[Lúthien|Lúthien Tinúviel]], married the man [[Beren|Beren Erchamion]], and as a result, Melian's Maian blood was passed on to both [[Elves]] and [[Men]].

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When war with the Great Enemy, [[Morgoth]], came to Doriath, she used her powers to guard and defend it with a protection called ''List Melian'', or "the Girdle of Melian". This prevented anyone less powerful than Melian from entering the kingdom. However, with the foresight of a Maia, she predicted that one day someone more powerful would be able to enter. When Beren arrived as foretold, she counseled King Thingol against sending Beren to search for a [[Silmaril]], which would eventually lead to Doriath's ruin. This was one of many instances in which she proved, through her wisdom and powers of foresight, to be wiser than her husband, and an effective queen of her land. The great evil wolf [[Carcharoth]] also passed the Girdle. In Doriath she also became a friend and tutor of [[Galadriel]] to whom she taught the art of lembas-baking. After the departure of Lúthien and Beren, she aided Túrin and his mother and sister. She provided [[Beleg Strongbow|Beleg]] with some way-bread, [[lembas]], and foresaw his doom in his quest for [[Túrin]]. When [[Húrin]] returned, she was the one to lift the spell of Morgoth from him.

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When war with the Great Enemy, [[Morgoth]], came to Doriath, she used her powers to guard and defend it with a protection called ''List Melian'', or "the Girdle of Melian". This prevented anyone less powerful than Melian from entering the kingdom. However, with the foresight of a Maia, she predicted that one day someone more powerful would be able to enter. When Beren arrived as foretold, she counseled King Thingol against sending Beren to search for a [[Silmaril]], which would eventually lead to Doriath's ruin. This was one of many instances in which she proved, through her wisdom and powers of foresight, to be wiser than her husband, and an effective queen of her land. The great evil wolf [[Carcharoth]] also passed the Girdle. In Doriath she also became a friend and tutor of [[Galadriel]] to whom she taught the art of lembas-baking. After the departure of Lúthien and Beren, she aided Túrin and his mother and sister. She provided [[Beleg]] with some way-bread, [[lembas]], and foresaw his doom in his quest for [[Túrin]]. When [[Húrin]] returned, she was the one to lift the spell of Morgoth from him.

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After Thingol's death, she vanished from [[Middle-earth]], passing to Valinor, where she mourned the loss of her husband in the [[Halls of Mandos]] and her daughter to the unknown fate of human death. Melian and Thingol were a unique couple, the only case where an [[Ainu]] married any Elf or Man. She was also the only Ainu known to have had children in the "official" drafts of Tolkien's work.

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After Thingol's death, she vanished from [[Middle-earth]], passing to Valinor, where she mourned the loss of her husband in the [[Halls of Mandos]] and her daughter to the unknown fate of [[Men|mannish]] death. Melian and Thingol were a unique couple, the only case where an [[Ainur|Ainu]] married any Elf or Man. She was also the only Ainu known to have had children in the "official" drafts of Tolkien's work.

===Etymology===

===Etymology===

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'''Melian''' (pron. {{IPA|[ˈmeljan]}}) in [[Sindarin]] means ''Dear gift''. Her [[Quenya]] name was '''[[Melyanna]]''' (pron. {{IPA|[meˈʎanːa]}}; from ''mel,'' "love" and ''anna,'' "gift"). She was also called ''[[Tóril]]'' meaning "Queen".

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'''Melian''' (pron. {{IPA|[ˈmeljan]}}) in [[Sindarin]] means ''Dear gift''. Her [[Quenya]] name was '''Melyanna''' (pron. {{IPA|[meˈʎanːa]}}; from ''mel,'' "love" and ''anna,'' "gift"). She was also called ''[[Tóril]]'' meaning "Queen".

== Other Versions ==

== Other Versions ==

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In the early [[legendarium]] Melian is defined as a fay, making her somewhat more sinister than in her later appearance. This version of her is presented in '''The Tale of Tinúviel''', Tolkien's first story of Beren and Lúthien, which was written in archaic english and published in the second part of the ''[[The Book of Lost Tales Part 2|The Book of Lost Tales]]''. In this work she appears in another later narrative, although her character is portrayed as being far weaker and more frail Melian's final manifestation.

+

In the early [[legendarium]] Melian is defined as a fay, making her somewhat more sinister than in her later appearance. This version of her is presented in '''The Tale of Tinúviel''', Tolkien's first story of Beren and Lúthien, which was written in archaic english and published in ''[[The Book of Lost Tales Part Two]]''. In this work she appears in another later narrative, although her character is portrayed as being far weaker and more frail Melian's final manifestation.

Contents

History

In Valinor, Melian dwelt in the gardens of Lórien, she was akin to Yavanna the Valar. Melian journeyed often to Middle-earth for she loved the deep shadows of trees and forests. There, in the woods of Nan Elmoth, she came upon Elwë Singollo (later known as Elu Thingol) as he marched into the West with the people of the Teleri. Elwe was entranced and fell into a swoon at the sight of the Maia Melian and the two of them stood hand in hand unable to move or speak for years while the trees grew around them. As a result of his absence, a portion of his followers stayed behind to search for him, while the rest continued on to Valinor. Melian and Thingol soon founded the kingdom of Doriath in Middle-earth and ruled as King & Queen. Their only daughter, Lúthien Tinúviel, married the man Beren Erchamion, and as a result, Melian's Maian blood was passed on to both Elves and Men.

When war with the Great Enemy, Morgoth, came to Doriath, she used her powers to guard and defend it with a protection called List Melian, or "the Girdle of Melian". This prevented anyone less powerful than Melian from entering the kingdom. However, with the foresight of a Maia, she predicted that one day someone more powerful would be able to enter. When Beren arrived as foretold, she counseled King Thingol against sending Beren to search for a Silmaril, which would eventually lead to Doriath's ruin. This was one of many instances in which she proved, through her wisdom and powers of foresight, to be wiser than her husband, and an effective queen of her land. The great evil wolf Carcharoth also passed the Girdle. In Doriath she also became a friend and tutor of Galadriel to whom she taught the art of lembas-baking. After the departure of Lúthien and Beren, she aided Túrin and his mother and sister. She provided Beleg with some way-bread, lembas, and foresaw his doom in his quest for Túrin. When Húrin returned, she was the one to lift the spell of Morgoth from him.

After Thingol's death, she vanished from Middle-earth, passing to Valinor, where she mourned the loss of her husband in the Halls of Mandos and her daughter to the unknown fate of mannish death. Melian and Thingol were a unique couple, the only case where an Ainu married any Elf or Man. She was also the only Ainu known to have had children in the "official" drafts of Tolkien's work.

Etymology

Melian (pron. [ˈmeljan]) in Sindarin means Dear gift. Her Quenya name was Melyanna (pron. [meˈʎanːa]; from mel, "love" and anna, "gift"). She was also called Tóril meaning "Queen".

Other Versions

In the early legendarium Melian is defined as a fay, making her somewhat more sinister than in her later appearance. This version of her is presented in The Tale of Tinúviel, Tolkien's first story of Beren and Lúthien, which was written in archaic english and published in The Book of Lost Tales Part Two. In this work she appears in another later narrative, although her character is portrayed as being far weaker and more frail Melian's final manifestation.